The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, MAY 9. 1936. MOTHER’S DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 109, 9 May 1936, Page 8

The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, MAY 9. 1936. MOTHER’S DAY

"piIE iusiiiuiiun oil Mother’s Day, like maiiy other goou iiiutgs. comes from the United States of America. The value of such an anniversary is perhaps more important there, than nt any other country, because very few Americans live in their own home town. Home town sentiment is fostered in America lor the simple reason that it is hidden in the heart of most men : there is that hankering' to go back to the scenes of one s childhood, particularly when they are of the sylvan order. The sentiment is not so strong when the days of childhood were spent in streets oi. monotonous bricks and mortar. America has been a community which has changed rapidly in recent decades; the urbanising and metropolitanising process having gone on at an accelerated pace, and consequently the broad meadows where boys played have become factory yards. Progress had to be paid lor. This quick change in the economy of America has not left ihe family unaltered, it has changed fundamentally in several important respects, (hie of these important alterations is its size: it has become smaller. The city dweller who lives in a flat does not find too many occupants of the cradle a blessing. Even when the only child grows up there is a tendency for it to move out into the world as soon as he or she is economically able io do so. The old associations are broken and the world becomes poorer because of the break in the family ties. It is not generally recognised, but nevertheless, the evidence is abundant. I hat the American people are very sentimental. Emotionally they are. starved, and it is this hunger for healthy emotions which, normally find their play in family affections which goes unappeased in that “advanced” community. Not only is this hunger felt by ihe children, it is also felt by ihe parents as well. Children grow up, they move out into the world, where new interests capture their attention ; while at home their careers are watched with affectionate interest by the parents who have foregone many of the pleasures of life for their benefit. As the years pass the child of yesteryear realises that there have been many occasions when the ones most dear to him could have, been cheered by thoughtful action on his own part, and be regrets that lie did not avail himself of the maiiy opportunities which he allowed to slip by. He.would have welcomed a reminder to think of his parents in some appropriate manner. Arising out of these needs and desires, Mother’s Day has been established. New Zealand is certainly not the United States of America; nevertheless the number of young people who have perforce to leave their homes to pursue their careers is an ever-growing one. The same human cleavages are making themslves felt in the family life, and with the enlargement of these breaks in association the same urge is needed to renew them. It is because of these same fundamental urges that the idea of observing Mother’s Day is gaining ground in this Dominion. .Mother’s Day is a gracious institution. It is not likely to gain a great deal of noisy attention because the best of human ties do not permit of being handled in public. It would be quite out of place to organise anything in the nature of a. public demonstration. But it is quite appropriate that there should be in every family circle some private demonstration of affection and love for the one whose presence means everything and whose absence means that home’, in its true sense, is no more. Alother-love transcends reason, it moves over all rational objections. No physical disability can operate as a bar: indeed, any such thing only serves to make mother-love flow more strongly. It seeks no compensation, it earns its reward only in the giving. Only? No, not quite! for even mothers are human beings. They, too, like to see the fruits of their own sowing in the better side of their children. And who has a better right to experience the better side of human associations, to witness the revelation of the generous instincts which are hidden (sometimes very, very deeply) in most men and women, than those whose hands have tended their growth with such tender care? The obser’inee of Mother’s Day, then is to be commended because it enriches family relationships, warms hearts with demonstrations of affection, and renews those springs without which flowing freely, this world would be a barren place indeed, despite all the advances of science and society.